End of Year Images are due Wednesday, June 3

The Image of the Year competition will be conducted via Zoom on Monday, June 8, at 7 PM. The deadline to email Paul Peterson with your selections is this coming Wednesday, June 3.

Rules for entering have been posted on the blog (see the Thursday, May 14 blog post). Make your selections and email Paul soon.

If you have forgotten what images you entered, you can look them up on the NHCC website. Go to the website and click on the Photographs tab. You can then look for your name and all the images you have entered this season will show up. If you click on a particular image, it will tell you the month it was entered and the category.

Any questions? Email Paul Peterson   pmjpeterson@sbcglobal.net

deadline -- Time to pick next year's categories for the assigned subject competition.

Time to pick next year's categories for the assigned subject competition.

The board voted this year to get rid of the rule that said that the same topic could not be used again. We had 17 years work of topics that used to be off-limits, but now they are eligible.

Vote by June 1st. Topics announced by the EOY competition on June 8th

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHCC202021

UPCOMING TWO NHCC FIELD TRIPS - SAVE THE DATES!

It’s time to get out and take some photos!

 

#1 FIELD TRIP

DATE:  Monday, June 22 @ 6:30 pm (Rain date, Monday, June 29)

This is a 2-part early evening/night photography session, so bring your tripod and shutter release cable.

 

PLACE:  Milford, CT – beaches and downtown center, duck pond and waterfall

 

MEET:  Trubee-Doolittle Park, 37 Hawley Avenue, Milford

              This is a small, grass park right on Woodmont Beach.

(It’s one big square block, more like a parklet.)

 

 

 

1^st stop – Woodmont Beach 

This residential area has a long, public beach along Beach Avenue with many interesting views of both residential architecture and coastline to photograph.

 

There is limited parking near the park, but plenty down the nearby streets within the general area.

 

2^nd stop – Downtown Milford

This is a nighttime photo extravaganza! Downtown Milford has a beautiful, long green with storefronts, restaurants and businesses on either side.  There are old town buildings, a waterfall, a harbor and waterfront walkway.

 

Parking is available all throughout the downtown and around the green and park.

Meet in front of the old Town Hall, 120 River St. (Waterfall is behind this building.)

 

#2 FIELD TRIP

DATE:  Sunday, July 19 @ 9:30 am

 

PLACE:  Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Avenue, Hartford, CT

 

MEET: Information booth near entrance

 

Hartford’s nationally recognized Cedar Hill Cemetery was established in 1864 and comprises 270 acres with more than 320,000 graves and memorials. Its reputation as a premiere example of the American “rural” cemetery is enhanced by its historic landscape, finely sculpted monuments and natural resources. The Cemetery’s landscape and “ornamental foreground” of ponds and meadows is unique in New England cemetery design.

 

Limited Parking is available onsite. We will be driving through the grounds and stopping for photos.

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE:

All safety guidelines will be followed – Keeping 6 ft. apart and wearing masks.  

 

-There will be no inside passenger car pooling, but individual cars may follow one another to the locations if they wish.

-Bring snack/lunch/dinner and non-alcoholic drinks for yourself.

-Comfort stops may be grocery stores or open gas stations which will be announced closer to the time.

 

 

Time to pick next year's categories for the assigned subject competition.

Time to pick next year's categories for the assigned subject competition.

The board voted this year to get rid of the rule that said that the same topic could not be used again. We had 17 years work of topics that used to be off-limits, but now they are eligible.

Vote by June 1st. Topics announced by the EOY competition on June 8th

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHCC202021

Time to pick next year's categories for the assigned subject competition.

Time to pick next year's categories for the assigned subject competition.

The board voted this year to get rid of the rule that said that the same topic could not be used again. We had 17 years work of topics that used to be off-limits, but now they are eligible.

Vote by June 1st. Topics announced by the EOY competition on June 8th

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHCC202021

2020 NHCCC survey results

In 2015 NHCC asked members to take a survey to learn more   https://nhccphotoblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/member-input-wanted.html

At the winter meeting of the NHCCC board meeting, Bill Hoikala suggested that it was time for another survey and the board agreed.

37 members took the 2015 survey and 34 members took the 2020 survey.  Results are below.
They can also be downloaded here as a pdf:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nsvdE_WluFVSvR5XObYoI-8EcmLAAMp1








Showing 12 responses

• I prefer a combination         
  
• Only took one short field trip 
• Due to scheduling issues I have not participated in field trips. 
• Wasn't sure what the question was; when my schedule allows, I have enjoyed all venues and do not have a preference one over the other-it is just a matter of timing and schedules. \
• I prefer all day local field trips (weekday) and overnight multiple day non-local field trips. 
• All day weekday trips or longer trips preferably during the week. It's nice to be retired! 
• Wish there was the ability to choose more than one, ex: 3 choices.
  
• I would enjoy day long field trips during the day. I would, also, enjoy a yearly field trip that would be for several days anywhere in the country or out of the country. 
• I would be open to any type of field trips. 
• Try to make some of the field trips coincide with the upcoming assigned categories for competitions.
• I don't much care for carpooling to field trips as I view it as a less flexible way of scheduling my time. 
• It really doesn't matter to me what the field trip is. If I can afford it and I have the time I will go on as many as I can
  

Please provide any field trip suggestions

• Sunrise / Sunsets
• Hammonasset Meigs point and bay trail
  
• I've been to the Pacific NW and have always fantasized about leading or co-leading a trip to the many sites there. 
• Wicked Tulips, RI. Newport, RI. Mystic, CT. Hartford Rose Garden. Hill-Stead Mansion, West Hartford. 
• Bronx Zoo during the week. Waterfall trip in the Fall. Penn, Ricketts Glen State Park (Waterfalls) 
• Are there any places to photograph horses? 
• the polo riding venue in Cheshire 
• Any of the national parks and historic sights (e.g. Williamsburg, Alexandria, Virginia).          
  
• Bronx zoo, weir farm in Wilton CT 
• local gardens, NHJCC members houses
  

Do you have a favorite local spot for your photography?

• Ct State Parks,
  
• Not really. I like churches and architecture.
  
• Elizabeth Park, White Flower Farm
  
• Edgerton Park and Pardee Rose Garden
  
• Maltby Lakes RWA
  
• NE and NW CT. as well as Vermont/New Hampshire.
  
• Any garden
• Nonexistent
  
• Ct. Waterfalls and sea shores.
  
• Hammonasset
  
• Elizabeth Gardens in Hartford Crickett Hill Peony Heaven in Thomaston
  
• No
  
• no. I like to take people pictures. not many places to go for that
  
• Beardsley Zoo
  
• Wadsworth and Hammonasette
  
• Elizabeth Park, White Flower Farm
  
• N/A, I live in Florida
  
• Wherever I can find birds 
• Gulf Beach

• I don’t have a lot of photo experience.
• Sorry, not right now 
• Do so already
  

Showing 6 responses

• They ARE informative, allow members to know each other better, and are fun. 
• I have presented
• Just recently started to attend club meetings 
• I don't have a laptop.
  
• They are all based on Photoshop. I don't use Photoshop Lisa's comment, we have had workshops on image critique, shooting flowers at Paul's, shooting flowers on a lightbox, using smartphones, making slideshows, greeting cards, Creative Projects with Your Photos, night photography, Photo pills, flash photography and more. Make sure that you are subscribed to the NHCCC blog to receive notifications about workshops.
  
• N/A, I live in Florida
  

What workshop topics would you like to see offered at NHCC?

• possibly 'Hands on' Camera functions (Nikon, Canon etc)         
  
• Lightroom Photoshop advanced skills
  
• Image Critique 
• Photoshop
  
• OnOne 
• bring back the judging workshop
• Cross polarization with clear plastic to create colored patterns. 
• Displaying one's images on the web. Pro's and con's of each website
  
• judging workshop
• Specific and practical approaches to photographing a type of location or subject. 
• Composition
  
• low light or evening photography 
• Another judging workshop
  
• indoor photography using modified speedlights, maybe with a model (could be a man) 
• how to process images; painterly techniques; best practices in LR; how to shoot birds; plugins 
• More software oriented workshop sessions. 
• Photoshop, hands on using your camera
• principles of judging photography competitions
• photographing flowers
  
• slideshows
  
• infrared

Are there any special photography skills you would like to impart to your fellow NHCC members?

• I'm pretty much a beginner.
• Assembling an iMovie. 
• Photography as Meditation. 
• Nope
• No
  
• No
• No
• Flower Photography with Light Boxes
  
• no 
• I gave a Still Life Presentation last year at Wallingford Camera Club by request. I was a member of the Club at the time.
  

• Have a salon group
• I would like to see a category for photos that are unedited. 
• don't know
• I would keep A and B classes as they are. However, moving up should be automatically done by acquiring a certain average or criterion. Lisa's note -- this is already in the NHCC handbook. The maker with the highest cumulative average automatically moves up. If there are 2 or even three people that are very very close for cumulative score, then all move up.
• Keep Class A and B separate, as they are presently, Maybe eliminate ties for 1st , 2nd and HM  Lisa's note --this would take significantly more time during competition, plus it woudl result in way fewer ribbons.
  

comments:

• don't know
• I would like the title of the photo prior to scores. The title of the photo tells the story Lisa's note -- this has been debated at the NHCC board meetings for at least the past 20 years (since 2000). The title is read before the judge comments, but the board remains firm that the photo tells the story, a picture is worth a thousand words.
  
• Photographers' preference for being named. Also, how about scoring submitted photos before the NHCC meeting, and using meeting time to show photos and results with more time for comments. Eliciting constructive comments from group would help members feel they are participating and it might contribute to members' confidence in stepping forward to be trained to be judges. Lisa's note -- we cannot do this on a case by case basis (photographer's preference) it has to be all or nothing since displaying the maker's name is in the preferences of the software -- it is all or nothing.
  

Showing 4 responses

• Switching to digital ribbons would also save meeting time for viewing and commenting on photos submitted.
• Happy with either. 
• Ribbons are tangible proof of success. One can always opt out of receiving them. 
• Digital ribbons would be a great way for us to display our awards on our website, on social media, etc. So many people would be able to see our success.
  

Comments:

• I’m very new to the group but very willing to learn.
• I presently hold a Board position. 
• Matting and framing photos  Lisa's note --please email Jan Doyle so she can set up a workshop (date to be determined once groups can safely assemble again)
  
• Photography as Meditation. Introductory presentation during a meeting, with additional sessions as a workshop/course. I developed and taught this course 2 years ago. Lisa's note -- please email Lisa and/or Denise so we can set something up -- this sounds interesting. The survey does not keep track of who made what comment so we do not know how you are.
  
• I do the above already, but would want to continue participating actively!
  
• I would love guidelines or guidance on judging.
  
• I'm happy just attending meetings. I'm OK being an "Indian." 
• Still Life presentation Lisa's note -- please email Lisa and/or Denise so we can set something up -- this sounds interesting.
• N/A, I live in Florida